Truss



(No Model.) I

R. H. FARGUE.

TRUSS.

No. 371,441. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

I I i mimnv WITNESSES UNITED STATES 'ATENT Quince.

ROBERT H. FARGUE, OF BROOKLYN, NFAV YORK.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,441, date-cl October 11, 1887.

Application filed July 7, 1857. Serial No. 243,649.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT H. FARGUE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsin trusses for treating hernia or rupture,the object of my improvement being to provide an effective means for holding securelyin place the plate to which the pads are attached, sothat the same will be practically immovable and will prevent the pads from becoming displaced.

Vith the above ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the plate to which the pads are attached, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the line x {U of Fig. 1.

A refers to the waistband, which is made of any suitable flexible material of sutficient width, the same being provided at one side of the center, near the front portion, with a buckle, a, to which the strap a is adapted to be secured, so as to join the ends of the belt or waistband to each other. At the front of this waistband is rigidly secured a metallic plate, B, which is provided centrally with a depending bar, 0, which has formed centrally therein a vertical slot, 0. The bar 0 is bent slightly outwardly at a point immediately beneath the plate 13.

The belt A at its rear portion is provided with buckles, as shown in dotted lines, with which-buckles straps of leather or other suitable material are adapted to engage, said straps being attached to the rear upper ends of the (No model.)

flexible bands D D, which straps are adapted to pass between the legs of the wearer, their opposite or front ends being attached to the pad-supporting plate of the truss.

At the rear central portion of the belt A is attached a belt, E, which is made up of asuitable elastic material, this belt being of a greater length than the belt A, the same being adapted to pass around the hips of the wearer, the front ends extending downwardly.

The elastic belt E has at one end a leather or othersuitablestrip,e, attached thereto,in the end of which is formed an eye, while the opposite end of the belt has a buckle, c, with which the short strap 6" can be attached, said strap 6 forming a means for adjusting the belt.

The truss-carrying plate F is curved transversely, so as to correspond with the curvature of the abdomen, and it is provided at its central upper portion with a projecting part, f, which is curved slightly inwardly and upwardly, and to the upper edge of this projecting portion f is attached a keeper or metallic strip, y, through which the bar 0 passes. This projecting portion is provided with a setscrew, 9, for adjusting the parts one upon the other.

The four corners of the plateFhave rigidly secured thereto projecting buttons 71, to which the ends of the belt E and straps D can be secured.

The pads I are made up of single pieces of sheet metal which are bent in proper form, the outer ends being struck up so as to form spoonshaped or curved portions which will bear directly upon the rupture, the inner ends corresponding in shape with the shape of the plate F. The ends of the pads are slotted, so that they can be adjusted upon the bolt i, which is employed for securing them to said plate.

By providing the plate F with abelt, E, and straps D the same is prevented from shifting and is held securely in place, and is not affected by any movement of the body.

\Vith my improvement none of the straps or waistband need be tightened to such an extent that it will render the same uncomfortable to the wearer, and the truss can be worn on the outside ofthe shirt or undershirt, so as to protect the same from perspiration.

A truss constructed as hereinbeforc described is light and cleanly and cannot become displaced, the same being held securely against all movement at each corner.

By simply removing the truss-pads the other parts of my device may be used as an effective abdominal support.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a truss, with a waistband, A, having a depending bar, 0, rigidly attached thereto, of elastic straps D, an elastic band, E, connected to the waistbandat its rear portion, a pad-carrying plate, F, provided at its corners with buttons for attaching the straps D D and band E thereto, and means for adjustably connecting said plate F to the portion 0, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth. 4

2. l he combination, with a pla. e, F, the same being curved transversely,of the pads I I, pivotally attached thereto, said pads being made ofa single piece of spring metal, the ends of which are struck up so as to be spoon-shaped, the opposite ends of said pads being slotted, so that they can be adjustably attached to the plate F, and means, substantially as shown,

for holding said plate in position, for the purpose set forth. I

- 3. The combination, in a truss, with a belt, A, made of flexible material, the same being provided at its front portion with a plate, B,

which is rigidly secured thereto, said plate A, the ends thereof being provided with means for engaging the upper studs or buttons ofthe plate F, the parts being organized substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI atfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT H. FARGUE.

\Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN F. AUSTIN, JOHN A. WELLs, Jr. 

